Electric, Hybrid-Electric, and Fuel-Cell Vehicle Design Tool Solution

    PITTSBURGH--Feb. 28, 2002--Ansoft Corporation today announced the integration of Ansoft's SIMPLORER(R) with ADVISOR (ADvanced VehIcle SimulatOR), a widely used software tool created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The combined solution, which enables engineers to evaluate and optimize new energy-efficient vehicle technologies, is available now.
    "More than 4,000 ADVISOR users can now take advantage of SIMPLORER to perform system-level drive-cycle simulation," said Uwe Knorr, Product Marketing Manager for Ansoft. "Engineers can evaluate the impact of today's complex and power-demanding electrical systems and optimize overall vehicle performance."
    The new automotive system design solution combines the strengths of SIMPLORER, which accurately predicts electrical system behavior, and ADVISOR, which performs overall vehicle system analysis. The integrated solution enables engineers to evaluate and analyze advanced propulsion and electrical systems technologies. Ultimately, the improved fuel economy and reduced vehicle emissions result in less dependency on foreign oil supplies and a cleaner environment.
    NREL worked closely with automotive industry partners to develop ADVISOR, a sophisticated systems tool capable of analyzing the energy efficiency of conventional, electric, fuel-cell, and hybrid-electric vehicles in a virtual environment. The objective of the ADVISOR program is to help automotive engineers make intelligent choices about improving energy-management strategies, optimizing vehicle system designs, and reducing development times. ADVISOR allows the engineer to virtually test the impact of changes in vehicle components, such as engines, batteries, and control systems to the vehicle-propulsion system that might impact performance, fuel economy, or emissions.
    An important trend towards new electronic technologies can be seen in the automotive industry. These technologies include 42-volt electrical systems, integrated starter-alternators, electric steering, brake-by-wire, electric pumps, and catalyst heaters. These technologies are projected to result in an additional 15% increase in fuel economy along with emissions reductions. To more accurately predict the effects of both propulsion and electrical systems and their interdependency, the capabilities of ADVISOR were extended. Ansoft's SIMPLORER provides the required electrical and electromechanical system simulation capabilities. Its unique simulator coupling technology allows co-simulation between ADVISOR and SIMPLORER, providing simultaneous analysis of the vehicle's propulsion and electrical systems.
    SIMPLORER is a sophisticated, multi-domain simulation tool for a wide range of system-level designs and analyses in automotive applications. SIMPLORER is constructed around a robust coupling technology that allows design engineers to analyze circuits, block diagrams, and state machines simultaneously.
    The combined SIMPLORER-ADVISOR solution will be attractive to both vehicle manufacturers, who are interested in overall system performance, and to suppliers who want to analyze a component's behavior in a virtual vehicle design environment. The new integration will debut in Detroit, Michigan at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress, March 4-7, in the Ansoft Booth (No. 2351).

    About Ansoft

    Ansoft is a leading developer of high-performance electronic design automation software. Engineers use Ansoft software to design state-of-the-art products, such as standard automotive components and systems, 42-volt systems, hybrid cars, electric vehicles, drive-by-wire systems, power electronics, wireless products, integrated circuits, and printed circuit boards. Ansoft markets its software worldwide through its own direct sales force and has comprehensive customer-support and training offices throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.ansoft.com.

    About NREL

    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's mission is to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advance related science and engineering, and transfer knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy and environmental goals. NREL is managed by Midwest Research Institute, Battelle and Bechtel, and is a leading center for research into wind, solar, biomass, and other renewable energy technologies.